For the Love of Marriage

Do you agree that marriage is obsolete or have you fallen in love with marriage all over again at the announcement of the royal engagement? The results of a survey released in October of 2010 revealed that 39-40% of Americans believe that marriage is becoming obsolete.

We’re Saying that Marriage is Obsolete, but Still in Love with Marriage

Chatting by the water coolers, we’ve been sharing our reasons for choosing the single lifestyle vs. marriage, but find ourselves still mesmerized by the news reports of royal wedding plans. We wonder if Westminster Abbey will be the location to exchange the royal vows as we are blinded by the flashes from photographers, capturing the raven beauty Kate on the arm of Princess Diana’s first born. It is now being said that the college educated and financially secure may be the only classes that will plan for marriage in the future. Ironically, Wills and the woman who will be the future queen of England will be such role models in the spring of 2011, exploiting their treasure and global position on their wedding day.

On November 18, 2010 Julie Snider of USA Today reported that those aged 18 to 29, mostly single, made up 44% of the study compared to the 32% aged 65 and older. Studies such as this have arisen in the past after examining the decreasing numbers, when almost 95% of Americans were married in the 1950’s down to 54% in 2010. It’s also interesting to note that statistics have shown younger women who married in the fifties were more likely to divorce. The general consensus of the recent marriage study revealed that even though what makes a marriage may be changing rapidly, it is still family that is most important to all.

Half of the Population of London is Single

In the United Kingdom, half of the population of London proper is made up of singletons aged 20 to 59, with the widest difference between London and elsewhere in the UK among 45 to 60 year olds. British historians state that 350 years have passed since a blue blood married a commoner. The whimsy will captivate and you can bet that throngs of Brits will be lining up along the parade route to get a glimpse of the royal bride and her groom, cheering them on and waving their flags of the monarchy.

Believe Half of what You See and Nothing of what You Hear

It should be noted that only 2,691 Americans took the survey on the obsolescence of marriage, given by the Pew Research Center which is located in Washington, D.C. Their researchers, who usually conduct monthly studies on politics and evolving ideas are part of a nonpartisan, walking, talking encyclopedia of facts on the latest issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and our world. Just keep in mind that it’s only an opinion of talking heads and not literally 40% of 310,750,000 Americans. Will the naysayers lead us to believe their findings are true and will we follow suit?

However, studies like these are certainly not a waste of time and worth pondering as our world is constantly evolving. More single men and women are taking advantage of new opportunities to garner wealth and develop a career before getting married, hoping they choose wisely in all areas of their lives. It may become fashionable to stay single in Europe, where more of the focus is on wealth and status, but there’s a royal wedding to plan. You’d better buy your hat.